Question

【题目】Today there are 6.4 billion people on the earth. By the year 2050 there may be 12.5 billion. There are many people to feed. We need more and more food.

One way to produce more food is growing stronger plants. For thousands of years, farmers have made plants better. Every season, they pick the best plants for the next season. It works very slowly. Since 1983, scientists have been able to change plants more quickly by changing their genetic (遗传的) material. Foods from plants grown in this way are called genetically modified (转基因的) foods, or GM foods.

By changing the genetic material of a plant, it is possible to make new plants. Scientists make plants which are strong against plant diseases. They can also help in our diseases; a kind of rice will be grown, for example, which stops people becoming blind.

Rich countries produce GM foods because they are easy to grow and bring in more money. Poor countries are interested in them because they help produce more food.

GM plants are not natural. No one knows how good or bad they are. Making GM foods is only one way of feeding people in 2050. There are strong feelings against them because they are unnatural. They may feed people, then hurt them or their children later. But both rich and poor countries are interested in their uses, and they are not going to go away. In 2050, we may think differently about them.

【1】There may be billion people by the year 2050 on the earth.

A. 6.4 B. 12.5 C. 18.5 D. 20.5

【2】How have scientists been able to change plants more quickly?

A. By making the best plants. B. By asking the farmers to grow plants.

C. By changing planting environment. D. By changing their genetic material.

【3】Why do rich countries produce GM foods?

A. Because they are easy to grow and bring in more money.

B. Because they are easy to grow and very cheap.

C. Because they help produce more food.

D. Because they are the best plants.

【4】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. GM plants are not natural.

B. GM plants are strong against plant diseases.

C. Everyone knows how good or bad GM plants are.

D. GM foods may hurt people or their children later.

【5】What can we learn from the passage?

A. GM foods will go away one day in the future.

B. GM foods will not go away in the future.

C. People will not be interested in GM foods.

D. People will have to stop eating GM foods.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】 B

【2】 D

【3】 A

【4】 C

【5】 B

【解析】

这篇短文主要讲述转基因问题。文章指出，转基因可以使植物增强抗病能力，也可以对人类疾病有帮助。同时指出，转基因植物非自然生长，其好坏尚不可知。

【1】细节理解题。根据第一段句子By the year 2050 there may be 12.5 billion．到2050年可能会有12.5亿人。可知是12.5亿人。故选B。

【2】细节理解题。根据第二段句子Since 1983，scientists have been able to change plants more quickly by changing their genetic（遗传的） material．Foods from plants grown in this way are called genetically modified（转基因的） foods，自1983年以来，科学家已经能够更快地改变植物通过改变它们的遗传物质。以这种方式生长的植物被称为转基因食品。可知通过改变他们的遗传物质。故选D。

【3】细节理解题。根据倒数第二段句子Rich countries produce GM foods because they are easy to grow and bring in more money．发达国家生产转基因食品，因为它们很容易成长，带来更多的利润。可知因为它们很容易成长，带来更多的利润。故选A。

【4】细节判断题。根据最后一段句子No one knows how good or bad they are．没有人知道它们有多好或者多坏。可知每个人都知道好的或坏的转基因植物是错误的。故选C。

【5】细节理解题。根据最后一段句子But both rich and poor countries are interested in their use，and they are not going to go away．但富国和穷国对它们的使用是感兴趣的，它们是不会消失的。可知它们不会消失（go away），相当于disappear，转基因食品在未来不会消失。故选B。